Display device



Jne 13, 1939.

N. sANDoR ET AL DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July l2, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l Ffa,

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Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE Application July 12, 1938, Serial No. 218,816 In Great Britain July 13, 1937 4 Claims.

This invention relates to advertising, indicating and displaying devices and is applicable both to the display of large advertisements such as those usually seen on bill boards and to the display of small advertising panels or frames of a size usual in display cabinets. More particularly the invention relates to such devices in which a plurality of frames or the like containing the matter to be displayed are disposed in a cabinet having a display window and are adapted to be brought into view successively behind the display Window. The invention has for its object to provide an improved construction of mechanism for displacing the frames,

In accordance with the invention there is associated with each of the frames one or more fluid operated pistons or plungers movable in cylinders and adapted to raise the frames containing the matter to be displayed successively into position opposite the display window, the supply and exhaust of fluid to the cylinder or cylinders being controlled mechanically, for example, by means of rotating cams or the like acting in succession on the valves controlling the admission or exhaust of the working uid t0 the cylinder, the cams being mounted on a shaft driven from any convenient source of power. Suitably compressed air is employed as the operating medium. The compressed air may be stored in acontainer and the pressure maintained by an electric motor and compressor, the motor also serving through reduction gearing to drive the mechanical means controlling the admission and exhaust of the compressed air to the cylinders.

In one convenient arrangement in accordance with the present invention the frames or the like containing the matter to be displayed are arranged at the bottom of a cabinet beneath the level of the viewing window. To each frame is attached two wires or the like passing over pulleys disposed at the upper end of the cabinet and supporting at their other ends counterweights slightly heavier than the weight of the frame to be raised, one of each pair of the counterweights being in the form of a piston working in a cylinder under the control of compressed air. The counterweight in the form of a piston, is so arranged in its cylinder that when the frame is not in viewing position i, e. is disposed below the level of the viewing window the piston is at the end of its stroke under pressure.

A common container for the supply of compressed air to all the cylinders is provided, a conduit leading from this container to a common valve block. The valve block contains a plurality of valves, one for each cylinder, the valves being normally pressed by springs against their seatings within the valve block to place the cylinders into communication with the compressed air container. The valves are adapted to be operated by means of cams to allo-w air to exhaust from the corresponding cylinders.

When it is desired to raise any particular frame the valve controlling the exhaust of air from that cylinder is opened and the counterweight, being heavier than the frame, thus descends in its cylin der raising the frame connected therewith behind the viewing window. After a predetermined interval of time the air is again admitted to the cylinder, thus raising the counterweight and lowering the frame.

As the arrangement is to operate continuously with the frames being raised in succession, the valves controlling the admission and exhaust of air to each cylinder from the common chamber are operated by means of cams o-r the like, while the motor may drive the compressor continuously, a suitable safety control may be provided to prevent the pressure from building up beyond a predetermined limit. The cam shaft may be rotated at any suitable speed through reduction gearing from the electric motor driving the The number of frames and the time interval during which each frame is to be displayed behind the window is dependent on the speed of rotation of the cam shaft and the shape and setting of the cams, which are preferably keyed on their shaft so that their setting can be varied.

The device forming the subject of the present invention may conveniently be combined with an advertising device as shown and described in our prior United States Patent No. 2,132,085.

In such an arrangement certain of the cards which may consist of indicia at two levels are arranged to be brought successively into a position behind the viewing Window, while such successive display of the cards can be temporarily interrupted to permit of other cards being displayed behind the viewing 'window at the Will of the operator.

In such an arrangement a common container for the supply of compressed air to all of the cylinders is provided, conduits leading from an interposed valve block to the various cylinders. In the valve block between the air supply and the conduits leading to the various cylinders there are interposed valves which are normally pressed by a spring against their seatings, preventing the exhaust of compressed air from the various cylinmon compressed air chamber is interrupted and` the compressed air exhausted to atmosphere thus allowing the piston to descend and raising the, associated panel orframe containingtheadver-V V tising matter behind the viewingV window.v

' member of the cabinet of the apparatus.

The cam shaft is preferablymounted in such manner that it is normallyheld by means of electro-magnets or relays or the like in such position that the cams operate the valves controlling the` supply and exhaust of compressed airto the cylinders. Depression of certain ofthe keys, however, serves to cut off the current to the magnets or relays or the. like, thus allowing the cam shaft toassume a floating position which serves to stop the elevation kof those frames normally displaced Vin sequence-.behind the-window and allowing the frameV correspondingV to the key which is depressed to be raised.

V:Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated somewhat diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings -in which Fig. l is a front elevation of the apparatusand Fig. 2 a section ony the line II-II of Fig. 1.V y, Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 2. KVFig. 4 is a detail to enlarged scale showing valves operatedV by the cam shaft which is driven through reduction gearing, while Fig. 5is a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 4.` Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a modification in which the frames or panels may beY operated either by cams orl by push buttons, while Fig. '1 is a side elevation of the ern- Y bodiment shown in Fig. 6. Y

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in Figs.` l to 5 of the accompanying drawings, I denotes the base of the advertising or like apparatus, 2 are uprights and 3 an upper cross- A plurality of vertical ,guide members 4 .are provided oneV for each frame or panel to be displayed, the vertical guide members 4 being embraced by the grooved members 5 mounted at the corners of the frames or panels 6 to be raised into .position in register with a viewing window of thecabinet not shown. l

Each frame or panel 6 is supported by a pair of wires, chains or the like, 1, 1a, passing over pulleys 8, on shafts 9, supported at each side of the cabineton the cross-member 3. Each of the chains 1-i`s connected at the other end with a piston or the like I0 in the form of a counterweight movable in a cylinder II. Since the counterweights at one side .of the cabinet will follow the movement of the corresponding counterweights at the other, pistons are not required at each side of the'cabinet. Thus the chains 1a-are pro-vided with Vcounterwights Ia but these `counterweights need vnot move in cylinders. Y

Each cylinder IIIis connected to a common valve block I2 by a connecting pipe I3 compressed air being suppliedsto the cylinders II alsoser'ving'to drive, through belts I8, I9 and,

pulleys 20,; 2I, 22, 23, reductionr gearing (not shown) but enclosed in the casing 24, the cams 26 mounted on spindle 25Y operating the valves controllingthe admission and exhaust of compressed air to the cylinders II.

The valve block I2 contains a pluralityof twoway valve members 21, one for each cylinder II, each valve being adapted to seat itself either on the seating 28, as shown, to put the cylinder into'Y communication with the common compressed air container I4, or on the seating 29- to permit air from the cylinders I I to exhaust through the Vpipe I3 and ports 3G. The valves are controlled by springs3l, 32 and are operated through the push Vmembers 33 in a sequencedetermined Yby the setting of the cams -26-on the shaft 25.

In operation, the valve spindle is rotated slowly, being driven from the electric motor I1, the cams 26 acting, in predetermined sequence depending on the setting of the cams 26, on theV pushrmernbers 33 each of which placesthe corresponding cylinder II in communication with the atmosphere through the pipe I3 and port 30 thus allowing the air to exhaust whereupon the counterweight, being heavier than Athe frame or panel, winds the chains or the like 1, 1a. over the pulleys 8 and raises the panel or frame containing the advertising matter (not shown) into positions in register with'the viewing window. When the advertisement has been displayed for a convenient length of time another valve is operated by its cam to exhaust the air for another cylinder which may be the adjacent cylinder whereby the next frame or panel is raised vin front of the frame displayed behindV the viewing window. The frame formerly raised then being lowered lbehind the frame now displayed behind the vieweither by cams or by push buttons is illustratedY in Figs. 6 and '1 of the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters are used Vto denote corresponding parts, it being understood that the panels or frames will normally be displayed in succession behindthe observation window, While a person can by depressing a button suspend such successive display and select any desired panel to be displayed.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 the cam shaft 25 is driven from a spindle 34 through bevel gearing and a chain drive 36. The cam shaft 25is mounted in brackets 31 disposed one at each side of the framework, the brackets 31 being adaptedtobe moved by means of electro-magnets 38. The electro-magnets 38 are normally energizedand serverto hold the Vbrackets 31 in such position that the cams 26 on the shaft 25 supported thereby, actuate pusher rods 33 operating valves similar'to those shown in Fig. 3 of our said U. S. Patent 2,132,085 to place the cylinders I I successively in communication with the atmosphere whereby the corresponde ing frame is raised into viewing position.

Across the front of the machine there isdisposeda key board 39 containing a pluralityof press-buttons or keys one of which is shown at 40.

' Such keys are connected in circuitV with the electro-magnets 38 say by the shoulders 42 on the keys closing a contact on the back'of the key board 39 and serve when depressed to break the electrical circuit, thus allowing the brackets 31 to move away from the electro-magnets andthe cam shaft 25 to assume a floating position in which in lieu of actuating the rods 33 the cams merely raise and low-er the shaft. When the electro-magnets are de-energized by the depression of one of the keys 40 the display of panels or frames containing the matter to be displayed in succession is interrupted. The depression of the key 40 serves to operate a bell-crank lever 4l to which is attached a pusher arm 33a serving to operate the corresponding valve in the valve block l2 thus exhausting the corresponding cylinder and permitting the frame or panel corresponding to the depressed key 40 to be raised into viewing.

position in register with the observation Window.

We claim:-

1. A display device comprising a cabinet, an observation window in said cabinet, a plurality of frames, said frames containing matter to be displayed and being disposed rearwardly of said observation Window and movable in said cabinet, a plurality of iluid motors associated with said frames for moving said frames in said cabinet, said motors each including at least one counterweight connected for movement in opposition to the frame and movable by iluid under pressure in a piston against the action of gravity, a plurality of valves for controlling the supply and exhaust of fluid to and from said fluid motors and means for operating said valves in predetermined succession to move said cards behind said observation Window.

2. A display device comprising a cabinet, an observation Window in said cabinet, a plurality of frames, said frames containing matter to be displayed and being disposed rearwardly of said observation window and movable in said cabinet, a plurality of fluid motors, one for each of said frames for moving said frames into and out of viewing position, each of said fluid motors comprising a cylinder and a piston in the form of a counterweight movable by pressure uid, in said cylinder in opposition to the frame against the action of gravity, each of said pistons being operatively connected to one of said frames, valves for controlling the admission and exhaust of working fluid to said cylinder and means for operating said valves in predetermined succession to permit movement of said frames behind said observation window.

3. A display device comprising a cabinet and observation Window in said cabinet, a plurality of frames, said frames containing matter to be displayed and being disposed laterally of said observation window and movable in said cabinet, a plurality of fluid motors associated with said frames for moving said frames in said cabinet, a plurality of valves for controlling the admission and exhaust of working fluid to said fluid motors, mechanically operating means for operating said valves in predetermined succession to permit movement of said frames behind said observation Window, other means for independently operating at least some of said valves, said means comprising a, plurality of keys and means operable on depression of a key to operate an associated valve and means operable on depression of some at least of said keys to interrupt the operation of the mechanically operating means whereby the successive display of frames may be interrupted and the frames displayed at the will of an operator.

4. A display device comprising a cabinet and observation Window in said cabinet, a plurality of frames, said frames containing matter to be displayed and being disposed laterally of said observation Window and movable in said cabinet, a plurality of fluid motors associated With said frames for moving said frames in said cabinet, a plurality of valves for controlling the admission and exhaust of Working iluid to said fluid motors, a cam shaft, a plurality of cams on such shaft for operating said valves in predetermined succession to permit movement oi said cards behind said observation window, means for holding said cam shaft in operative position, a plurality of keys, said keys on depression serving to operate said fluid motors and release said holding means to interrupt said successive display of frames and to permit of frames' being displayed at the will of the operator.

NICHOLAS SANDOR. FELIX EDWARD LASZLO SANDOR. 

